Tag: Palestinian Territories

Pope Francis on Christmas Day, called for peace in the Holy Land and elsewhere throughout the world.

Pope Francis used part of his Christmas message to urge Israelis and Palestinians to formulate a two-state solution by sitting down at the negotiation table and agreeing to a peace deal to allow both sides ‘to live together in harmony’.

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WHY IS THE U.S. UNDERMINING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF ISRAEL?By Gary A. Aminoff

Here are a few questions that I would like answers to:

When was the last time a sovereign nation announced urban planning decisions in its principal city and had the wrath of the United States rain down upon it?

What right does the Secretary of State have to declare the decision by the City of Jerusalem to allow the construction of 1,600 housing units “insulting” to the United States?

Why is the United States interfering in the right of a nation to conduct its business and provide housing for its residents?

The degrading treatment of a sovereign country by the United States is intolerable to all who believe in the right of nations to govern their own countries. It is especially troubling to American Jews who wonder why their government is treating Israel differently than it treats any other country?

The answer, of course, lies with the troubled political position of President Barack Obama. Obama, apparently having no coherent foreign policy, having alienated many of our allies, along with taking actions that make the United States appear weak and indecisive, needs a foreign policy “win.”

He, like many on the left, have delusions that the real reason the Palestinian Arabs won’t make peace with Israel is because of…..settlements. Those who know the truth would double over in laughter at the thought, if the matter weren’t so serious.

The political naivete demonstrated by this administration, from the President to the Vice President to the Secretary of State to Special Ambassador Mitchell is astounding. They clearly have no understanding of what motivates the Palestinians. They think it is (wait for it)…the settlements.

The truth is, and everyone clearly knows this except our brilliant administration, that if Israel were to decide to destroy every settlement in the West Bank or all the housing in Jerusalem there would still be no peace with the Arabs.

Wake up Secretary Clinton, housing of residents of Jerusalem has NOTHING to do with whether the Arabs make peace with Israel or not. Israel gave up ALL of its settlements, and moved ALL of its population out of Gaza. Did that make a difference to the Arabs? Did it result in peace? Of course not!

They are playing our administration for fools. The housing issue is simply a “red herring” that enables them to avoid negotiating with Israel. Danny Danon, a member of the Israeli Knesset had this to say today,

“Secretary Clinton recently embraced the task of helping solve shipping problems of American food products to our shores, yet condemns our right to build homes for Jews in the city of Jerusalem. Jews living in Jerusalem is why Israel exists as a Jewish state. With all due respect, Madam Secretary, forget the gefilte fish for Passover and support our inalienable rights to the Jewish homeland, Israel.”

Here is the bottom line and why there will never be peace anytime soon between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs.

The goal of the Palestinians, whether they are led by Hamas or by Abbas, is not peace with Israel. It is the total destruction of Israel and its disappearance from the Middle East along with all of the Jews.

You can call for whatever talks you want to arrange. No amount of talking will result in peace between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs in our lifetime. Perhaps a new generation of Arabs who are not taught to hate Jews from the time of their birth will be able to accept Israel in the region. But, like the Jews after the exodus from Egypt, it will take a full 40 years for that generation to come into power.

I will tell you one way that peace could occur tomorrow from the Israeli point of view. Have the Arabs declare that they recognize the State of Israel and that they agree to stop bombing Israel or attacking Jews. Achieve that, and you will achieve instant peace. Since we all know the Arabs will never do that…..we also know there will be no peace.

It is counter-productive for the US to put pressure on Israel. Israel is not only a sovereign country, it is a democracy, it supports the US and the West, and it is a country which produces innovative products that make our everyday life easier and safer. The medical achievements that have come out of Israel in the past 20 years have saved an untold number of American lives.

To attempt to humiliate or subjugate Israel for domestic political gain is behavior which is not worthy of the long history and special relationship between the United States and Israel.

Gary Aminoff is the President of the San Fernando Valley Republican Club and is a member of the Republican Jewish Coalition. He is a commercial real estate broker practicing in Beverly Hills.

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Arlene Kushner, writing in the Washington Times explains how the U.S. Government (meaning U.S. Taxpayers) have funded a 39 page glossy “Palestine Guide Book” just released by the Palestine Authority in which Israel doesn’t exist.

The U.S. government, via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided support for a glossy 39-page “Palestine Guide Book.” Just released by the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Tourism, it declares on its first page, “Palestine lies between the Mediterranean Coast and the Jordan River.” Not until Page 10 are we informed – under the heading “Country” – that “Palestine comprises the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”

Ms. Kushner then provides a history of the area which history is ignored in the Palestine Guide Book.

The PA, awash in internal politics that are neither moderate nor conciliatory, has been displeased consistently with negotiations – despite some extraordinarily generous offers. It thus suits the PA to create “facts” unilaterally, making its case to the international community rather than at a negotiating table.

This booklet promotes fallacious positions that defy a major U.N. Security Council resolution and a written agreement between Israel and the PLO – both of which require negotiations for determination of final status for Palestinian Arabs.

It is unsettling to see the USAID logo on the back cover, but it is no accident.

Magdouline Slameh, head of the PA Ministry of Tourism Department of Materials and Translation, expressed gratitude to this writer for the wonderful support provided by USAID. She said her staff wrote the booklet in close cooperation with the USAID offices in Ramallah.